ISLAMABAD, April 9: The government on Friday gave tribesmen a 15-day ultimatum to hand over foreign suspects believed to be hiding in the North Waziristan border region, locals said.

The ultimatum was issued by federal government-appointed administrator Shahzada Khan at a meeting with a 30-member delegation from North Waziristan's four tribes, Zanikhel, Bakakhel, Darukhel and Kabulkhel, in Miranshah.

"He (administrator) sought written guarantees from the tribal leaders and warned them that an operation will be carried out after 15 days if the government get information of presence of any foreign militant," a tribesman, Hayatullah Khan, told dpa.

He said the authorities would fine anyone harbouring suspected foreign terrorists the equivalent of $35,000 and demolish their houses. Meanwhile, a government-appointed tribal delegation held talks on Friday with Zalikhel tribe to negotiate the surrender of at least seven locals believed to be harbouring suspected terrorists in the South Waziristan region.

"The talks will continue tomorrow," Allah Noor, a local tribesman, told dpa. A 28-member team, appointed by NWFP Governor Iftikhar Hussein Shah reached the region late on Thursday for another round of talks with Zalikhel tribe to negotiate the hand-over of seven suspects, who are members of its sub-tribes, Kirmaskhel, Kakakhel and Yargulkhel.